Good question. All I could find was this on Kaiser Penguin http://www.kaiserpenguin.com/jet-pilot/, probably one you may know already from BB Berry 'Sippin Safari'. I would also like to know the recipes to the Mai Kai Zombie and Mai Tai.

The Mai Kai Jet Pilot is a unique creation of Mario Licudine, and quite different in taste from the Bum's, which has been painstakingly reconstructed according to the research of other recipes of that time. I don't think the Mai Kai version uses cinnamon syrup, and I think it's considerably stronger than the Bum version, but that's my subjective analysis.

On 2008-11-19 08:21, Tonga Tiki wrote:Has anyone come up with a recipe that tastes close to the Mai Kai's Jet Pilot?

Define "close".................

The Bum's recipe is 'the' recipe as it existed for its introduction to the Mai-Kai menu. It doesn't quite match what you get from the bar today, which depends entirely on which bartender is mixing on the particular night you are there.

I prefer the Jet Pilot to the '34 Zombie. I find it just a bit smoother and more balanced. Although I do like the '34 Zombie, its my favorite Zombie recipe. Heads & shoulders above the recipes that use Maraschino Liqueur, such as the Speivak recipe IMHO.

Anestiki, wow, you're so close. I just tweaked a few ingredients and posted the Jet Pilot as my latest Mai-Kai cocktail review. I have a source that tells me there's no grapefruit, but everything else appears to be correct.

Tried this last night--great job at approximating that special Mai-Kai "thing". The cinnamon and honey compliment each other well; not too sweet at all and impart Donn Beach-level complexity. The Atomic Grog Shrunken Skull and Jet Pilots are now in my rotation.

Although I've been to the Mai Kai many times over the years I've only managed to order from the "Strong" side of the drink menu and have thus missed many of the gems (past & present) you've paid tribute to, so keep up the good work!

I tried the Atomic Grog version of the Mai Kai Jet Pilot. It is currently my favorite drink. I had a party over the weekend and turned a whole bunch of people onto it. The honey mix makes it very accessible. I used Cruzan Gold and Caruba Dark Rum. I have made Jet Pilots quite a bit using the traditional recipe, but my latest Mai Kai visit pushed me to try their version. Quite frankly I am no fan of grapefruit juice anyway ....gives me a headache even before I've had too many.

It was interesting to see some people's reaction to a complex, quality rum drink. To some...the crappy rum runner at the beach or Rum and Coke is all they have experienced. It sparked the conversation for me to discuss the different tastes and qualities of rums in my inventory. I believe I converted many....